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Welcome
to the RNZIH Notice Board
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During October 2000,
this site was extensively redesigned and upgraded by the new webmaster
(Murray Dawson). Thanks to the previous webmaster (Andrew Maloy)
for his help and encouragement.
We will continue to provide
fresh and relevant information and invite comments, web site ideas
and contributions from members and others.
New
Products and services available through the Horticulture ITO
Over
the past 12 months a number of new and revised products and services
have become available through the NZ Horticulture ITO. They include:
- Recognition of prior
learning (RPL) which involves awarding a person all or part of
a National Certificate in Horticulture qualification on the basis
of previous experience and skills. The key features of the RPL
programme are available for people who have been working in the
horticulture industry in New Zealand for 8 or more years continuously
or, if in broken periods 8 years out of 12.
- Accelerated assessment
also involves awarding a person all or part of a National Certificate
in Horticulture qualification on the basis of previous experience
and skills. However, Accelerated Assessment differs from RPL in
that it makes no assumptions as to the ability of the candidate.
Essentially it is a fast track way of obtaining a qualification.
Because of the experience of the candidate, the candidate may
be assessed immediately rather than having to start the training
programme from scratch.
- Cross - crediting
involves awarding a person credit towards a National Certificate
in Horticulture qualification for partially completed or fully
completed `old - world` qualifications. There is a formal process
involved where old - world completed papers have a corresponding
match in terms of a unit standard. The ITO Education Manager uses
a cross-crediting database that forms the basis for all cross-crediting
decisions.
- Modern Apprenticeships
in horticulture were introduced in the Modern Apprenticeships
Training Act 2000. The purpose of the Act is to encourage and
help young people (aged between 16-21) to take up and complete
apprenticeship training. Modern Apprenticeships build on the best
of apprenticeship traditions with the big difference being the
apprentice is assigned a personal mentor to help the apprentice
succeed.
- Modern Apprenticeships
training lead to a National Certificate in Horticulture at Level
4 of the National Qualifications Framework. In addition to skills
specific to horticulture, apprentices may learn other skills such
as information technology and communication skills. To be eligible
for a Modern Apprenticeship a candidate must be 16-21 years old,
though provision for older people seeking a career change may
be made.
- National Diploma
in Horticulture (Level 6). This qualification has been revised
and re-registered so that it is entirely elective. This allows
trainees to select unit standards to suit their own enterprise
and career development. Subsidised funding is available through
the ITO for trainees in this programme. Trainees select units
available through Otago Polytechnic (Cromwell) and study extramurally.
- National Certificate
in Horticulture (Arboriculture). This qualification was registered
by the NZ Qualifications Authority in August 2001. The off - job
programme is available through the Waikato and Otago Polytechnics,
both of whom are leaders in the field of arboriculture. Trainees
can specialise in a number of options including ground worker,
basic climber, advanced climber, consultant climber and utility
worker.
Further details on any
of the above services are available through your nearest HITO Regional
Manager:
Auckland/Far North/Waikato/Bay
of Plenty: Barb Pownall, Ph (09) 970 1340
Central North Island: Rodney Hickman, Ph (06) 870 6246
Wellington: Mary Dinnis, Ph (04) 233 2712
South Island: Phil Greenless, Ph (03) 964 4738 or Mike Saunders,
Ph (03) 964 4775
Freephone 0800 467
844
This information was
reproduced with the kind permission of Mike Finlayson CEO of the
NZ Horticulture
Industry Training Organisation.
Reproduced from the Newsletter of the Royal New Zealand Institute
of Horticulture 2002, No. 3, December, p. 6.
Chairman's
Comments (September 2002)
Spring is definitely
in the air. In Auckland at least, most magnolias are past their
best, plum trees are coming into flower and the best of the Prunus
is yet to come. Soon gardens everywhere will spring fully into life
and that part of horticulture compulsory to us all (visiting other
people's gardens for pleasure and inspiration) will be in full swing.
Garden
Registration Scheme
Most of you will be aware
that for the last two or three years the executive committee has
been investigating the feasibility of such a scheme. At our last
executive meeting (a teleconference) the motion was passed that
a RNZIH National Register of Gardens be established. Executive committee
member Jayson Kelly has been instrumental in producing and revising
business plans, proposals and budgets, which have eventually led
to this decision. It has always been of paramount importance to
the executive that any such scheme should in no way jeapordise the
finances of the Institute. The scheme approved thus far is based
on a self-funding principle. It requires 15 'Founding' gardens to
sign up to the scheme, or equivalent sponsorship, to get things
up and running. The NRG sub-committee consisting of representatives
from the Institute, tourism industry and garden owners has already
procured some sponsorship to help promote the scheme to potential
founding garden owners.
The aim of the NRG is
to set up a database that will contain accurate and objective information
on gardens that are open to visitors, both public and private. The
difference between the Institute NRG and other similar websites,
books and databases is that the information provided by the Institute
will be true and correct, verified and endorsed by the reputation
of the RNZIH. Garden owners will pay to have their gardens assessed
and for the information to be available on our database, which will
fund the scheme. The database will be made available to tourism
and public sector organisations, to be used for garden promotions,
both nationally and internationally. Research has shown there is
a demand for this type of database. Providing this service will
not only raise the profile of the RNZIH and lead to an increase
in membership (all gardens on the database will be required to be
members) it will go a long way towards furthering one of the main
objectives of the Institute, to promote excellence in gardening
and horticulture.
Already owners of gardens
open to the public are being sent information packs about the scheme
and being invited to participate. Depending on founding gardens
signing up a final decision to proceed will be made in November,
providing the business of the NRG will not put the assets of the
RNZIH at risk in any way.
We owe Jayson Kelly a
vote of thanks for the huge effort it has taken to finally get this
seed, which was sown several years ago, to the point of germinating.
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